Get To Know Us
The Catallyst Difference
We are a small investment boutique. We have no corporate imperative to meet budgets or profit targets. We do not introduce an investment for any reason other than being “remarkable.”
We will wait for as long as it takes to identify what we believe to be a remarkable investment opportunity and only then introduce it to our network of investors.
Our background and culture
Catallyst Advisors was founded in 2008 with a view to identifying extraordinary investment managers and then introduce them to institutional investors. We continue to do that today.
At the same time our principal, John Schaffer, was investing on his family’s behalf. It became apparent that through his network he was seeing truly remarkable and exciting investment opportunities.
From here the business evolved into the identifier and introducer of the “remarkable”. Thus the business and its culture has evolved into one that seeks out exciting and exceptional investments, whether it is in a portfolio context or a discrete single investment opportunity.
About John Schaffer
John is the Founder and Principal of Catallyst Advisors.
John has a history in financial services spanning tax, investment and corporate finance dating back over 45 years. The previous 35 years has been investment focused including research, advice and principal investment.
In the late 80’s John was co-founder of what became one of the most successful independent institutional advisory groups in Australian investment industry history (now part of the multinational Morningstar group of companies).
As well as leading Catallyst Advisors, John currently sits on the Investment Committees of Generation Life and the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.
John founded Catallyst Advisors in 2008.
We are not investment advisers
Whilst we do provide advice and assistance to professional Investment and Wealth Managers, as well as others seeking to raise capital, we don’t provide investment advice.
The efficacy of any investment can only be ascertained by reference to the subjective circumstances, risk tolerance and objectives of each potential investor. We identify investment opportunities without knowledge of these criteria. The investment opportunities we introduce are not appropriate for all potential investors.
We are investors and investment introducers. We introduce investments or investment strategies to institutional and sophisticated investors – those who understand that their subjective circumstances, risk tolerance and investment objectives are a critical fundamental ingredient in determining the efficacy of any of their investments. It is not part of our offer to address investment suitability for any investor.
What We’re Working On
Goodlander Investment Management
Goodlander Investment Management’s absolute return global decarbonisation listed equity strategy is a powerful example of strong prospective return for less than commensurate risk. The strategy targets 15-25% per annum net, yet possesses defensive characteristics to protect and outperform in market drawdowns.
Hardman Johnston Global Advisors
We identified Hardman Johnston’s global equity strategy in our first year of operation. After over a decade we maintain our strong conviction of the strategy being deserved of the tag “remarkable”. Hardman Johnston’s international equity strategies are led by one of the world’s X-Factor talents.
Private Equity – Strategic Capital Partner Raising
In 2021 we were engaged to introduce a strategic capital investor to what is amongst the best investment opportunities we’ve ever identified. We successfully completed that introduction in Q1 22.
Haben Property
Haben are specialist neighbourhood and sub regional shopping centre investors run by Harold and Ben Finger. They provide the perfect example of investors who have superior insight within a niche market, particularly in identifying significant capital accretive value add opportunities.
